Jordan's Diary

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I been at this school for exactly one day, and already, my name louder than the morning announcements. Ain't even mad at it. Let 'em talk.

By the time last period roll around, I'm posted in the back of English class, half-listening while the teacher drones on about some old-ass book. I don't care. I'm doodling in the margins of my notebook, barely keeping my eyes open.

Matthew taps my arm, whispering, "Yo."

I glance up.

He nods toward the door. "Kaleb."

I follow his eyes.

Kaleb standing outside the classroom, arms crossed, jaw tight. He look better than he did this morning—less blood, less shock—but his ego still bruised. I can tell 'cause his whole face screaming payback.

I smirk.

The teacher don't notice him, but I do. And so does Maiesha, who sitting two rows up, tapping her nails against the desk. She peeks back at me with this little smirk like she know something I don't.

Alright. Bet.

Bell rings.

I take my time packing my stuff, letting the classroom empty out. I know they waiting. Matthew lingers. "You sure you good?"

I chuckle. "Matt. Relax."

We step out into the hall, and sure enough, Kaleb and his crew posted up near the lockers, waiting. Maiesha beside him, arms crossed, looking smug.

"Yo, new girl," Kaleb calls.

I sigh, tilting my head. "Damn. You still mad?"

His boys chuckle, but he don't. He steps forward, towering over me, trying to make me feel small.

That don't work on me.

"You got lucky this morning," he says, voice low.

"Lucky?" I scoff. "Boy, I let you walk away."

His jaw clenches. "Nah, see, you don't get how this work. You don't embarrass me and walk around like shit sweet."

"Sounds like a you problem."

His hand twitches like he debating grabbing me.

Matthew shifts beside me. "Yo, just let it go, man."

Kaleb don't even look at him. "Shut up, Matt."

And just like that, I feel it—this little spark of anger in my chest. I could ignore it. Could walk away.

But I don't.

I step even closer, so we eye to eye. "Don't talk to him like that."

Kaleb lets out a dry laugh. "Or what?"

I smile, but it don't reach my eyes. "Try me and find out."

He stares me down, and for a second, I think he might actually do something. But then Maiesha grabs his arm.

"Not here," she mutters.

He hesitates, then smirks. "Aight. We'll see."

He steps back, but the way he looking at me tells me this ain't over.

I just grin. "Looking forward to it."

---

Josie, Again

I don't even get two blocks from the school before I hear her voice.

"You just love making enemies, huh?"

I glance over.

Josie walking beside me, hands stuffed in her hoodie pockets, eyes full of amusement.

I smirk. "They started it."

She raises an eyebrow. "And you just had to finish it?"

"Obviously."

She shakes her head, laughing under her breath. "You reckless as hell."

I light up a cigarette, exhaling slow. "You keep popping up. You stalking me?"

Josie rolls her eyes. "Boy, please."

I smirk. "You just call me boy?"

"Figure that's what you want, the way you dress."

I chuckle. "Cute. You always this nosy?"

Josie shrugs. "You interesting."

I take another drag. "Yeah?"

She side-eyes me. "Don't get cocky."

Too late.

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Chapter Two: They Ain't Done (Part 2)

Me and Josie keep walking, neither of us in a rush to get home. The sun dipping low, casting long shadows across the sidewalk. I take another drag from my cigarette, letting the smoke curl out slow.

Josie side-eyes me. "You know that shit gon' kill you, right?"

I smirk. "Ain't that the point?"

She stops walking for half a second, like she ain't expect me to say that. Then she shakes her head, muttering, "You really on some other shit."

"Ain't nobody forcing you to walk with me," I say, flicking ash onto the pavement.

She huffs. "You right."

But she still here.

We cut through a corner store parking lot, and she grabs a bag of chips from inside while I lean against the wall, scrolling through my phone.

"You don't get along with your folks, huh?" she asks when she come back out.

I glance up, eyebrow raised. "What makes you say that?"

She shrugs, popping open the bag. "You don't got that 'I gotta get home before my mama start trippin' energy."

I snort. "Nah. My moms too busy playing rich white lady to care."

Josie chews on that for a second. "So you just do whatever you want?"

"Something like that."

She hums. "Must be nice."

I don't answer.

We keep walking, but I know she peeped it—that little shift in me. I hate talking about my mom, hate the way it make my chest feel tight, like I'm sixteen again standing in that cold-ass courtroom, listening to her apologize to the judge for my behavior like she ain't the reason I'm fucked up in the first place.

"Nah, but for real," Josie says after a minute. "You gon' watch your back with Kaleb, right?"

I smirk. "You worried about me?"

She sucks her teeth. "Hell nah."

"Liar."

She shoves me, but she laughing. And just like that, the tight feeling in my chest loosens up.

---

Home Ain't Home

By the time I get back to the house, the Benz is gone. That means Mom still at whatever fundraiser, dinner, or rich people event she got tonight.

Good.

I kick off my shoes, make my way upstairs, and shut my bedroom door behind me. First thing I do is pull a bottle out from under my bed. Twist the cap. Take a long sip.

The burn in my throat is familiar, almost comforting.

I lay back on my bed, staring at the ceiling, letting the alcohol settle in my bloodstream.

One day in this school and I already got people pressed. Already got problems. Already got… Josie.

I exhale, running a hand down my face.

Yeah. This shit gon' be interesting.

---

Chapter Two: They Ain't Done (Part 3)

I wake up to the sound of my phone vibrating against my nightstand. My head heavy, stomach sour from the liquor I downed last night. I blink at the ceiling, groaning before grabbing my phone.

Matthew: Yo u up?

Matthew: Kaleb looking for you

I smirk, rubbing my eyes. Let him look.

I drag myself out of bed, ignoring the empty bottle on the floor. My uniform a wrinkled mess, but I don't care. I throw on my blazer over my button-up and grab my bag.

By the time I make it downstairs, the house still quiet. No sign of Mom. Probably at some early-morning meeting, acting like she too busy to be a parent. Works for me.

I step outside, lighting a cigarette as I walk to school.

---

A Warning

"Yo, Jordan."

I barely make it through the front doors before Matthew rushes up beside me, looking all kinds of stressed.

"You hear me?" he says.

I exhale smoke. "Yeah, I heard you. What?"

"Kaleb been running his mouth all morning."

I roll my eyes. "And?"

Matthew lowers his voice. "And he talking 'bout catching you after school. Says he ain't letting that shit slide."

I smirk. "He that mad?"

"Jordan, I'm serious."

I sigh, flicking the cigarette before stepping inside. "Relax, Matt. I got this."

He groans. "Why you like this?"

Before I can answer, a voice cuts through the hallway.

"Look who finally decided to show up."

I turn.

Maiesha leaning against a locker, arms crossed, lips curved into a smirk. She got on her cheer skirt, socks pulled high, her edges laid perfect. She looking at me like she already won something.

I tilt my head. "You miss me or something?"

She scoffs. "Boy, please. You ain't that special."

I smirk. "You sure? 'Cause you always in my face."

A few people ooh under their breath. Maiesha's jaw tightens, but she recovers quick.

"Keep playing," she says. "Kaleb got something for you."

I lean against the lockers. "He gotta handle his own fights first before you do all that talking."

Her eyes flick over me, then she sucks her teeth. "Mm. You lucky I don't waste my time fighting bitches who wanna be boys."

I chuckle low. "That's cute. You practiced that in the mirror?"

She glares, but before she can respond, a voice calls out.

"Ayo, Maiesha, let's go!"

She whips her head around. Kaleb standing at the end of the hall, watching me like I already got a target on my back.

I just smile.

This gon' be fun.

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